Sermons upon the Book of Job

they feel an unquietness which passeth all the pains and torments of this world. It behoveth us too know this, to the intent that while we live here below, we may pray God to guide us with his holy spirit, that we may not cover any unlawful thing: waiting continually till he accomplish his promise, in gathering us all together into his heavenly kingdom. Lo what we have to bear in mind. And as touching the rest, although Jobs talk was out of square, (as I have said already) yet notwithstanding we may gather some good and profitable lesson §20of it. Howe so? When he sayeth that Kings and Princes do build up desert places: he showeth the foolish vaingloriousness that is in worldlings, and in such as would make themselves renowned here. When men devise, practise, and consult of building houses and palaces: we know that commonly there is excess. When they proceed according to the order of nature, and say, very vell, it is Gods will that we should lodge here below, and thereupon do build themselves houses to dwell in according to their articles: it is a very good §30line that they draw by. But they that mean too magnify themselves in the world, content not themselves with that, but will print an everlastingness of their names in their palaces and castles, and they will have them to be seen a far off. Who builded such a place? it was yonder Prince. Thus ye see the vain gloriousness that passeth beyond the order of nature. And that was it that Job meant too give inkling of. As if he had said, men that live upon earth are pricked with much care, in such wise as they take much pain, and fail not to heave §40out one another. For they be so pricked with their own lusts, that they wage battle against nature. For what meaneth this their building in deserts? It is too make buildings that are as it were incredible, that when a man cometh too the place, he may take up his hand, and bliss him, saying: Howe is it possible too have builded in this place? For if a situation be convenient and easy to build upon, and a man see some fair building upon it: very well, it shall be thought no strange matter, and it will be mocked at by some maner of quippe.§50 But if a man see a place that is as it were unapproachable, and some other take upon him to say, I will make it a place of estimation:

they feele an vnquietnesse whiche passeth all the paynes and tormentes of this worlde. It behoueth vs too knowe this, to the intent that while wee lyue here belowe, wee may pray God to guyde vs with his holy spirite, that wee may not couer any vnlawfull thing: wayting continually tyll hee accomplishe his promise, in gathering vs all togyther into his heauenly kingdome. Lo what wee haue to beare in minde. And as touching the reste, although Iobs talk was out of square, (as I haue said alredy) yet notwithstanding wee may gather some good and profitable lesson